20 years of the Cordial Cup

History Cordial Cup

The Cordial Cup developed to one of the greatest youth tournaments in Europe over the last years. First it was established 1998 and initialised by head organiser Mr. Hans Gruebler (HG Sport Promotion) and the CORDIAL Hotelgroup.

The Cup is always played at Whitsuntide in Kirchberg in Tyrol and became equally a sporty and economical fixed venue in the region of the Kitzbueheler Alps. This tournament is played in the age groups U 11, U13 and U15 and U15girls and had teams entering from 27 nations so far. Among these teams, who took on a long journey, e.g. the FC Fortalezza from Brazil, Nagoya Grampus Eight from Japan and Force Three from New Zealand.

Further top teams:
FC Barcelona, FC Chelsea, FC Liverpool, FC Bayern, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Bayern München, 1. FC Nürnberg, Borussia Dortmund, Hertha BSC Berlin, Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Deportivo Cruz Azul, TSS Vancouver, FC Porto, Wanderers FC Johannesburg, Dynamo Kiew, Spartak Moskau, CSKA Moskau, Feyenoord Rotterdam, FC St. Gallen, Grasshoppers Zürich, FC Basel,Udinese Calcio, Juventus Turin, FC Sochaux, FC Fortaleza, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Austria Wien, Rapid Wien, Red Bull Salzburg.

Cordial Hotel Group

The CORDIAL Hotel group is an Austrian tourism company with more than 30 years of marketing presence and supports the national and international youth in sport.

"Social responsibility has a long tradition at CORDIAL and is part of our corporate culture. The young talents are a particular concern to us and as a holiday club, we have the opportunity to invest in the development of the youth. The Cordial Cup has become a very special event over the last years and we are proud of this development, "said Dr. Ettehadieh, CEO of Cordial Hotels. www.cordial.at

The CORDIAL Cup connects people

Every year, 3,000 players, boys and girls meet from over 20 nations in the Kitzbühel Alps. Many friendships have been closed here.

Five Tourism Boards pull together!

ORGA-Team mit Tourismus-Chefs

As part of the Cordial Cup, the tourism organizations are closely working together with their neighboring regions for many years and look forward to welcoming young footballers from numerous nations. The special feature on this special relationship is the perfect one-two game between Head Organiser Hans Gruebler, the CORDIAL Hotel Group and the hosting regiongs with hundreds of hard-working volunteers in the background, which all have one common goal: enthusiastic young footballers, bright eyes when parents and spectators cheer them on as well as a deep passion for soccer over the years.

With the Cordial Cup and the Cordial Girls Cup we achieved something really special - not just within Tyrol - but also with the top football clubs from around the world - we all pull together! For nearly 2 decades, this event is a sporting figurehead and therefore a fix part in the event calendar of the 5 Tourism Boards! Not only emerging talents are brought to Tyrol, but through common sports experience - impressions are created that motivate them to return again and again in the region - unforgettable moments that remain forever in memory and we all look back on with affection for a very long time.
Our 5 Tourism Board Managers
Gernot Riedel, Geschäftsführer Kitzbüheler Alpen St. Johann in Tirol Oberndorf – Kirchdorf – Erpfendorf
Max Salcher, Geschäftsführer Tourismusverband Kitzbüheler Alpen – Brixental – Brixen – Kirchberg – Westendorf
Stefan Astner, Direktor Tourismusverband Kitzbüheler Alpen – Ferienregion Hohe Salve
Lukas Krösslhuber, Geschäftsführer Tourismusverband Wilder Kaiser
Gerhard Walter, Geschäftsführer Kitzbühel Tourismus
In addition to the tournaments we also offer the festive frame of the Cordial Cup - exciting hours filled with experiences, emotions and solemn moments. Unforgotten the march in of the teams from the center of Kirchberg to the stadium in Kirchberg and years before in Kitzbühel.

Thousands of spectators cheer them on at the exciting finals on Pentecost Sunday, when once again the best young footballers give an impressive sample of their talent at the end of the tournament . It is not difficult for the attending scouts from various clubs of the top European to discover the odd amazing talent. During the hundreds of matches over these 2 days they have plenty of time and opportunities.
In the run-up to the Cordial Cup over 30 qualification touranments are held in various countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy (South Tyrol), Slovenia and France, which are attended by more than 650 teams.